From hidden history to breathtaking countryside, Gloucestershire is teeming with fun activities to enjoy this summer.

We've picked out 20 adventures for all the family to experience from the wild to the wonderful and the best bit of all is they don't cost a thing.

Here are some of the best ways to have fun for free in the county over the next few months.

DROP-IN DAYS

Outdoor and nature lovers should head to Robinswood Hill Country Park in Gloucester to join in the fun of their drop-in days on Wednesdays during August, to take part in wildlife-themed activities.

MIDSUMMER FIESTA

Celebrate summer at this free festival in Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham, on July 7 with live music, children’s rides and activities, classic cars, food stalls, market stalls and the ubiquitous bouncy castle. What’s not to like?

SCULPTURE TRAIL

Sculpture trail

Children and adults alike will love roaming around the Forest of Dean, coming across amazing sculptures, from ‘Cathedral’, the giant stained-glass window, to ‘Iron Road’, railway sleepers carved out of wood into poetic images such as a leaf, feather or cloud. Take a picnic and spend all day hunting for the sculptures.

COLEFORD MUSIC FESTIVAL

A jam-packed programme of top music acts, including jazz, reggae and folk is lined up to entertain for free at this live music festival on July 14 and 15 in the Forest of Dean town centre. Four different stages will be featuring an eclectic mix of musicians, and there’s also workshops, exhibitions, market stalls, demos and street food.

Read More

Family days out in the Cotswolds

With more than 130 lakes and countless paths and cycle tracks, there’s plenty to do at the park in South Cerney, without having to fork out. Take your bike and cycle past lakes and through countryside, wander the lanes on foot, spotting flora and fauna, or picnic by the side of peaceful water.

UKELELE DAY

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

A free day to celebrate this hugely popular instrument for all the family at Taurus Crafts in Lydney. Running on August 12, there will be lots of ukulele bands under a covered marquee, children’s activities a mini market, barbecue and refreshments.

MUSEUM IN THE PARK

With a surprise around every corner, the museum in Stroud has 4,000 objects on display, from one of the world’s first lawnmowers to dinosaur bones and interactive toys. There’s even a ‘secret garden’ - a contemporary Walled Garden that will amaze and delight, and some rooms have peep holes.

PILGRIM LAUNCH PARTY

Celebrate the competition of the 10-year Project Pilgrim to restore, regenerate and improve parts of Gloucester Cathedral, with a host of activities and demonstrations to take part in or watch on June 24. Have a go at heritage crafts or watch stonemasons at work; visit hidden places in the cathedral and meet the characters from its history; join in with family activities and enjoy local food and drink.

MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL

Foot soldiers, knights, and their ladies arrive at the battlefield for the re-enactment of the 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury watched by thousands, part of the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival weekend. Photo by Andrew Higgins 08/07/2017

Join in the medieval mayhem on July 14 & 15, when the 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury is re-created with the help of hundreds of re-enactors at the place where is all happened those 550 years ago. You’ll be able to walk through a medieval encampment to see swordsmen, serving wenches, witch dunking, musical extravaganzas and much more from the re-enactors, traders and entertainers and it’s all free.

WOODCHESTER PARK

Discover a chain of five lakes amid a 'lost landscape' with remains of an 18th- and 19th-century landscape park in Stroud. Hidden away in the magical surrounding woodland, you'll find an old boat house, where bats now roost in the roof space, emerging at dusk to hunt over the lake. The wood also hides a disused quarry which used to provide stone for the Woodchester Estate.

Read More

Eating out in Gloucester

A short walk overlooking the reservoirs brings to the remains of this once large and luxurious Roman villa in its peaceful Cotswold setting. Children can run around the ruins and sometimes the bathhouse complex is open to view the mosaics pavements. Finish off with a walk up into the woods behind the villa that leads on to the Cotswold Way.

SUMMER JAM

A two-day free festival of music, food and drink at Cheltenham’s Brewery Quarter on August 4 & 5. Enjoy a host of local performers and DJs on the Summer Jam stage throughout the weekend, while The Brewery’s own bars and restaurants will be offering outdoor bars and tasty street food stalls, fun competitions, exciting games and more.

PARK BEAT

Pittville Park

Younger children will love exploring the county’s many fabulous playgrounds during the summer break. Check out Pittville in Cheltenham, where there is a wonderland of play equipment to try out, as well as cages with rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and teeny chipmunks. Across the road is a skate park and boat rides on the lake. Another great spot is Broadway Park, with a large climbing wall, multi-use games area, grass pitch, space net, zipwire and a picnic area. For a bit of peace and quiet, go to Hillfield Gardens in Gloucester, a hidden gem with historic monuments, arboretum trees and timber sculptures.

GLOUCESTER GOES RETRO

Gloucester goes retro

A chance to celebrate nostalgia on August 25 by dressing up in vintage clothes and enjoying a day filled with classic and historic vehicles, music and dancing, re-enactors and special guests. The city centre will be filled with people dressed in themes from Star Wars and gangsters to retro police and Marvel heroes, with each area of the centre marking different time zones from 1900 to present day.

RIVER FOOTBALL

Bourton on the Water football match in the river

Do you enjoy a bit of crazy fun? Then head along to Bourton-on-the-Water on August 27 to watch the famous football match in the River Windrush. Two seven-a-side football teams from Bourton Rovers battle it out in the water, with spectators cheering on from the banks – and trying not to get splashed.

JET AGE MUSEUM

Open Day At Gloucestershire Airport

Let’s be realistic, there are bound to be some rainy days whether we like it or not. But don’t despair, there’s still this wonderful museum in Staverton to explore if you like planes and history, offering the story of Gloucestershire’s rich aviation heritage. You can clamber into cockpits, try out the pilot’s seat and learn about the differences between flying today and back when man first took to the air.

STROUD COUNTRY SHOW

A traditional country show on July 21, acting as a showcase for local skills, crafts, and produce from across the region, from farming, pets, flowers and fruits to handicrafts, photography and art. Discover children’s rides, vintage vehicles, brass bands, trade and charity stalls, a beer tent and locally produced food.

COMMUNITY PLAY SESSIONS

During school holidays play rangers set up sessions in parks and green spaces across the county for youngsters up to 14 to take part in. Activities include active play, den building, arts and crafts and informal sports and games. Find out more at www.playgloucestershire.org.uk

Some 15,000 music fans descended on Cirencester Abbey Grounds last summer and this year on August 25 & 26 there will be 40 bands and artists split between the two stages, as well as food, drink and a great vibe. There’s also a Let’s Play stage for younger musicians, with another 40 acts showcasing their talent.

Read More

Eating out in Cheltenham

Spend a day hare spotting. Not the real wild ones, but 100 stunningly decorated giant hares that can be found all over the county and beyond. The Cotswold AONB Hare Trail runs until September and people can grab a trail map and hunt out as many of the sculptures as they can. Each one has been decorated by local artists in an array of beautiful colours and designs and they will be auctioned off for charity at the end. Find out more at cotswoldharetrail.org.uk